Women’s Committee
AT WORK FOR
you
MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF WOMEN
The UFCW 247 Women’s Committee takes on activities that make a difference in the day-to-day lives of women.
We invite UFCW 247 members to join us!
The Women’s Committee does work in the community that involves much more than simply helping out women in the union. Among the Committee’s efforts:
- Prepare emergency kits to help those forced to leave their homes
- Coordinate the annual Shoe Memorial each December;
- BBQs & Baking events;
- International Women's Day events;
- Donations to Women's Shelters;
- Donations to homeless shelters and more…
THE SHOE MEMORIAL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES IN WHICH THE UFCW LOCAL 247 WOMEN'S COMMITTEE TAKES PART.
Each year on December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the Shoe Memorial honours the memory of murdered women by placing a set of shoes for each victim on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery, with their names displayed.
Started by the late Pat Kelln, the Shoe Memorial takes place on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery and in other communities right across the province and country – a powerful public display and a blunt reminder of how many women continue to be killed as a result of gender-based violence.
The time, energy, and commitment of UFCW Local 247 activists to the Shoe Memorial helped it grow significantly over the years. Pat saw Local 247 as the kind of progressive organization that could help make sure the Shoe Memorials would continue to speak for those victims of violence whose voices have been silenced.
UFCW 247 shares Pat’s commitment to remember the victims while reminding the public about violence against women. The focus is not to blame, but to remember the victims – the mothers, daughters, and sisters that no longer walk with us as a result of violence and to work towards ending this brutality.
Each year, all the shoes gathered for the memorial are donated to agencies and organizations that directly assist women in need.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
SHOE DONATIONS
Every woman has a pair of shoes, runners, or boots in a closet that she doesn’t wear anymore. The Women’s Committee is happy to accept donations of new or gently-used shoes, ideally before November 20.
SHOE DRIVE IN YOUR WORKPLACE
It’s easy to start a shoe donation drive in your workplace for the Shoe Memorial and we’ll help you get started.
START A SHOE MEMORIAL IN YOUR OWN COMMUNITY
If you would like to start a Shoe Memorial in your own community, we are more than happy to assist!
DECEMBER 6 SHOE MEMORIAL
Women’s rights are an important issue for our union! We are proud of having an active Women’s Committee whose goal is to help make a positive difference in people’s lives, often at a time when they need it most.
Any members interested in joining the UFCW 247 Women’s Committee can contact Tima Dickerson at tdickerson@ufcw247.com.
Current members of the Women’s Committee include Cathy Maw, Sandra Peters, Dawn Stevenson, Cathy Shannon, Marg Robbins and Tima Dickerson.
